I always kills me to see new trucks or trucks that are way cool from the front, only to see a goose-neck or fithwheel trailer sitting in the side yard, and a huge dent or a caved in tail gate.

The question I have is how could it be forgotten? I have seen this phenomenon many times, it seems to be contagious. I usually laugh when its on a Ferd or Cheby, I don't even care when its on a 1/2 ton gasser, but the bulk have been on pristine Dodge CTD's, WHYYYY?????

Had a buddy back in 98' fold his brand new quad-cabs tail on a fithwheel, never did get it fixed, guess he wears it as a reminder.

Why does it seem to happen so much? Is there just a crowd of trailer noobs out there?

 

I'm thinking trailer noobs I have unhooked and hooked up MANY a gooseneck trailers and haven't forgotten one yet. Not to say I might not in the future though. Did forget to latch the gooseneck coupler once, should have double checked after the boy I told to get in the back of the truck to latch it while I raised the jack stands. Nothing bad happened, the trailer shot up in the air when loading the tractor, safety chains caught it

 

Why it happens is half noobs and half forgetting usually occurs after you put the gate up too unplug the lights if you still have the plug on the OEM local. I on the other hand loose the tail gates right away and lean them up again the barn and don't have too worry about it

 

Most of the people I know that have done it were just in a hurry, never done it myself.

 

I did it once and ran it over with the ford 8n and it straightened it right out little thinner but worked great for years tell it got a flat bed on it

 

I have only 1/2 way done it. Unhooked the trailer jacked it up to clear the ball and opened the tailgate, When I pulled ahead I spun out (I was on snow) So I backed up put it in 4 wheel drive and took a run at itI look in my mirror and I see my tailgate shield flying in the air. Put a nice gouge in my tailgate. If I put a new plastic cover on my tailgate it will look like new. I got lucky!!

 

I was parked at an angle one time and didn't have room to drop the tailgate. When I tried to unhitch I also didn't have room to keep the tailgate up. Result - small dent to the tailgate. A 4 lb hammer and a 2X4 and if you don't know it you don't see it. That Line-X is some tough stuff.

 

They have gas shocks to lower the tail gate slowly. Just need to rig up a unlatch mechanism so when the hitch hits it, down goes the gate.

 

Only issue I have had was when I got the 05 and had the BW put in, it was all new to me, thought it was pinned, pulled awayand the neck of the trailer landed on the bedrail. Oh well. Got a flatbed now, so you'd never know

 

Years ago in the race car days, my boss has a Top fuel FC. We had just come home from a long drive and it was pouring rain. I unloaded the trailer and parked it along side the shop. I had released the 5th wheel and raised the trailer on the legs. My boss came out and we got into it over where the trailer was parked. Like a couple of idiots we we standing out in driving rain arguing a mute point. I got frustrated and slamed the tail gate and said I'm parking the truck in the shop and going home. I'll move it tomorrow. With that I got in the truck put it in gear and stomped on it.. Huge bang and crash. The tail gate was ripped completely off and laying in the driveway next to my boss.

I parked the truck in the shop and he came by as I was getting my travel stuff out and said "in the morning after you move the trailer and toss the tailgte in the dumpster go down to GM and see if they have a new one. Then if you are awake enough maybe put a coat of paint on it and install it." And he went out the door.

We had a good laugh over it the next day as he ripped the tailgate off earlier in the summer himself.

 

I haven't done it, but my Dad has done it to his '92, and '96. The '98.5 was spared, until I backed into a telephone pole with it down.

The '05 never did get the 'gate ripped off...

It's easy to do if you are too many steps ahead of yourself.

Merrick

 

Slightly different but same topic... What gets me is seeing a brandy new dump truck and then looking at the rear and seeing a nice big V in the top of the gate. 95% of the medium class dump trucks I see have the "Pintle Crunch" One of my 1st jobs...I was told...If the gate gets crunched, you get fired on the spot. To this day, I have never forgotten to make sure the gate is chained

 

It's not a "truck", but i did reshape the tailgate on a Dodge Caravan once by backing into a telephone pole with it open. That will make you feel really stupid too.

 

It is probably the same thing people are thinking about when the back out or the car port with their door opened and catch the door on the pole....
In the body shop business I saw that a few times each year!

OG

 

I was backing up to the horse trailer just thursday and forgot it was so icy... Slid into it and dinged up my bumper because my 8k lb truck doesn't stop so good on ice while on a hill. As long as the trailers fine I'm good, funny enough it matches the dent the first owner put in it, only 3" away from eachother